Michigan winemaker next speaker in Entrepreneurship Series

KALAMAZOO—The co-founder of Free Run Cellars and expert vintner for Round Barn Winery will be the next presenter in the Entrepreneurship Forum at Western Michigan University.

Matthew Moersch, winemaker and distiller for Entente Spirits, LLC since 2002, will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, in 2150 Schneider Hall. The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059 or at wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp. Free parking is available in the nearby Fetzer Center parking lot.

Matthew Moersch

Having grown up on a vineyard, Moersch began his winemaking career path while picking grapes as a young boy. In 2002, Moersch became Round Barn Winery's winemaker and distiller, learning from his father Richard, who founded the winery in 1992 and has worked as a winemaker in the area for more than 25 years.

After apprenticing with his father, Moersch sharpened his winemaking and distilling skills during extensive travels in France, Germany, Hungary and California. His European training spanned the Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne regions of France and the Rhein region of Germany as well as touring and tasting throughout Hungary's Tokay region. During the last eight years, he has honed in on his own style, modeled primarily after the French traditions of winemaking and brandy production.

In July 2006, Moersch and his brother founded Free Run Cellars, a sister winery in Berrien Springs, Mich., that specializes in producing single vineyard designate wines. In August of this year, Moersch and his team at Round Barn Winery added Round Barn Public House to the equation, which features more than 20 unique beers on tap brewed in-house in the Round Barn Production House.

Upcoming 2013-14 Entrepreneurship Forum dates and speakers

• Jan. 10: Dale Anderson, owner of Confections with Convictions
• Feb. 14: Steve Hartmeier, president and CEO of Vestaron
• March 14: Amy Proos, owner and CEO of Proos Manufacturing